“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 NLT)
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? … A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. … Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:1-3; 18; 20 NLT)
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 BSB)
For 3 years I have been a member of a well known fitness club whose claim to fame is being a “judgement free zone.” I actually worked there on staff for about a year and loved every minute of it. We worked very hard to create a place where members of all backgrounds, and varying degrees of fitness experience, are able to work out in a non intimidating environment. It was this accepting atmosphere that kept me coming back. The irony is that one of the key elements of creating this “judgement free zone” is a very visible judgement of what is called a “lunk.” The description of the behaviors that classify a person as a “lunk” are posted throughout the club. Adjacent to the free weight area, on the wall above the mirrors, is a “lunk alarm.” When a staff member recognizes someone behaving as a “lunk” the alarm is set off. It consists of a bright flashing light and a loud, ear piercing siren. “Lunk” behavior will result in being asked to leave the club. It may even result in having your membership revoked.(so much for a purely “judgment free” community).
Today, it is very common to hear the phrase “don’t judge me” used by anyone who doesn’t like what you are saying to them (even if you are not being the least bit “judgmental”). What people are really saying is that they want to be completely independent of anyone else’s involvement in any of their choices, preferences, decisions, or lifestyle. Imagine how you would feel if I was driving down the highway at 70 miles per hour the wrong way, and you were flashing your lights, honking your horn, and yelling out the window to let me know what I was going the wrong way, and my answer to your warning was, “Don’t judge me!”? What if there was a sign posted that warned of an abrupt 500 foot drop off and as I read the sign my thought was, “I wish these judgmental people would stop posting their opinions.” as I stepped off the cliff? Yet, in many ways our current “don’t judge me” culture is heading dangerously fast in the wrong direction straight toward the cliff. At the risk of “judging,” I don’t believe a society can function very long that way. Living without any form of judgement leads to anarchy and chaos. Society crumbles under these conditions.
I have learned that there are two types of “judging.” One that is to be left to God alone, and the other that each of us are required to do each and every day. I am not able to see another person’s heart, or read their mind; therefore I am unable to judge their motives or intents. Trying to determine why a person acts the way they do is not my responsibility. An even more serious offense is looking at someones outward acts and trying to judge their eternal destiny. I am not the judge of anyone else’s salvation. There is only one judge for eternity, and thank the Lord it’s not me.
The type of “judging” that I am required to do every day has to do with behavior (especially my own). When either my behavior, or someone whose life in someway intersects mine, are harmful it is my responsibility to get involved. That puts me into the tough position of a judgement. The Bible is very clear that I am accountable for acting upon this requirement to judge. That is why Jesus was so clear in His directions to check my motives in this area.
I am to be motivated in everything that I do by love. Love wants only the best for the other person. Love judges without becoming judgmental. Love keeps me from being tempted to step over the line and confront someone with selfish, or self righteous, motives. Before I even think about approaching someone else I need to take a hard look at my own behavior. I need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I am confronting is a clear issue in scripture and not just my personal preference (when in doubt, don’t). Finally, I need to approach whatever I do bathed in prayer. Jesus said that He didn’t come to condemn, but to save. Am I being like Jesus in how I approach those around me?
This has been a tough lesson for me to learn (actually I am still learning). However I still need to follow…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 30: “To judge or not to judge, this is the question (even a “Judgement Free Zone” requires judgement).”